The GnATTERbox

For discussion of the issues faced when building a model or layout - how to replicate wood, what glues to use, exactly how much weathering can a Gnat take, a good source of detailing accessories - you get the picture, I'm sure.

But don´t expect me, to built a new layout, everytime some new figures come around

Definitely caused a laugh Juergen!

Juergen it seems to me that you create layouts all the time!
I have never seen an overall plan of your layout in all the time I have watched your amazing collaborations of timely and specific productions of scenes.

You are one very creative modeller!!

Regards Michael
If you believe you can make something, you can make it.

I've been messing around with some Bachmann Big Haulers figures, to be exact the Engineer (Sitting) figure.

From left to right - figure as bought, my modified figure, Schleich 4x4 driver (now discontinued?).

The bachmann figures have a body/legs made of a hard plastic with a rubbery plastic used for the head and arms. Both plastics seem to stick alright with superglue though. Modifications to the figure are straightening him up, moving the arms and removing the hat and gauntlets.

Scale wise, they come out as being just over 5 feet tall in 1:24 where the Schleich figure comes out as around 6 feet - not sure if the bachmann figures are under scale or the Schleich figure overscale or both.

backwaterscotland wrote:Scale wise, they come out as being just over 5 feet tall in 1:24 where the Schleich figure comes out as around 6 feet - not sure if the bachmann figures are under scale or the Schleich figure overscale or both.

Cant speak for the scale of the Bachmann figures, but they look close to 1:24. The Schleich ones though are intended to be 1:20, so yes they are overscale, but usable with care and can be chopped around as you have seen in other threads.

Dave, certainly the stuff I use can ............... although where I have used it where for example the seam is less than perfect when 2 pieces are brought together then I have started to wipe the joint afterwards with a superglue debonder which just alleviates the need to sand at all

Was going to post this on the Bottom Yard thread but its buried pretty deep now

I needed some 1930's to 1950's "British" workmen in the proper scale so decided to play with some of the SLM figures in the spares box.

The origonal is obviously the left hand figure , following a bit of surgery to reduce his height to a more realistic 5' 8" added a flat cap, a waistcoat ... the fleece of its day seems to be worn by about 90% of workmen in the photos I have looked at, and added some detail to his boots

A bit of a paint job and he has ended up like this

Of now to see what we can do with the right hand figure as well as sorting out their infamous seated driver ( just for you Mr Mott )

Now you either love this product or hate it ............. me I like it because you can roll it out into thin sheets as long as you dust your surfaces with some talc. Its water soluble so you can blend in with a damp brush & push /prod into folds etc ............. and if you gently heat with a hair dryer you can speed up its setting time.
The waist coat was made of 3 separate parts, left & right front and a back cut roughly to shape following a paper pattern previously made up ..... dampen body and then apply letting each piece harden off a bit before moving onto the next bit .... with a bit of heat doesn't take long, all the work on this figure was completed in a couple of hours.

One tip I would suggest is that if you purchase it cut the rolls of putty into smaller lengths and either place in sealed plastic bags or wrap in cling film .......... this just helps to stop it all drying out to quickly.

I am about to have a go at building a model rat for my Acme layout ..... and after going to various craft and model shops finally finished up with a pack of Milliput.
Everything else was out of stock.
Nice to see that it is the same stuff that you use ..... so if the model doesn't come out right I know that its me, not the material

Looks good Gordon maybe I'll try one once they're available.
More resin figures from China have surfaced in Doll's House half scale.
The new ones are up-market women that might suit any Heywood style layout. They can be found here.